TY - JOUR
T1 - Make mission impossible feasible
T2 - The experience of a multidisciplinary team providing treatment for alcohol use disorder to homeless individuals
AU - Dionisi, Tommaso
AU - Mosoni, Carolina
AU - Di Sario, Giovanna
AU - Tarli, Claudia
AU - Antonelli, Mariangela
AU - Sestito, Luisa
AU - D’Addio, Stefano
AU - Tosoni, Alberto
AU - Ferrarese, Daniele
AU - Iasilli, Giovanna
AU - Vassallo, Gabriele A.
AU - Mirijello, Antonio
AU - Gialloreti, Leonardo Emberti
AU - Di Giuda, Daniela
AU - Gasbarrini, Antonio
AU - Addolorato, Giovanni
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2020. Medical Council on Alcohol and Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/8/14
Y1 - 2020/8/14
N2 - Aim: People experiencing homelessness are often excluded from treatment programs for alcohol use disorder (AUD). The goal of this study was to describe the impact of a multidisciplinary treatment program on alcohol consumption and social reintegration in individuals with AUD experiencing homelessness. Methods: Thirty-one individuals with AUD experiencing homelessness were admitted to an inpatient unit for 5–6 days for clinical evaluation and to treat potential alcohol withdrawal syndrome. A group of volunteers, in collaboration with the Community of Sant’Egidio, provided social support aimed to reintegrate patients. After inpatient discharge, all patients were followed as outpatients. Alcohol intake (number drinks/day), craving and clinical evaluation were assessed at each outpatient visit. Biological markers of alcohol use were evaluated at enrollment (T0), at 6 months (T1) and 12 months (T2). Results: Compared with T0, patients at T1 showed a significant reduction in alcohol consumption [10 (3–24) vs 2 (0–10); P = 0.015] and in γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase [187 (78–365) vs 98 (74–254); P = 0.0021]. The reduction in alcohol intake was more pronounced in patients with any housing condition [10 (3–20) vs 1 (0–8); P = 0.008]. Similarly, compared with T0, patients at T2 showed significant reduction in alcohol consumption [10 (3–24) vs 0 (0–15); P = 0.001], more pronounced in patients with any housing condition [10 (3–20) vs 0 (0–2); P = 0.006]. Moreover, at T2 patients showed a significant reduction in γ -glutamyl-transpeptidase [187 (78–365) vs 97 (74–189); P = 0.002] and in mean cell volume [100.2 (95–103.6) vs 98.3 (95–102); P = 0.042]. Conclusion: Patients experiencing homelessness may benefit from a multidisciplinary treatment program for AUD. Strategies able to facilitate and support their social reintegration and housing can improve treatment outcomes.
AB - Aim: People experiencing homelessness are often excluded from treatment programs for alcohol use disorder (AUD). The goal of this study was to describe the impact of a multidisciplinary treatment program on alcohol consumption and social reintegration in individuals with AUD experiencing homelessness. Methods: Thirty-one individuals with AUD experiencing homelessness were admitted to an inpatient unit for 5–6 days for clinical evaluation and to treat potential alcohol withdrawal syndrome. A group of volunteers, in collaboration with the Community of Sant’Egidio, provided social support aimed to reintegrate patients. After inpatient discharge, all patients were followed as outpatients. Alcohol intake (number drinks/day), craving and clinical evaluation were assessed at each outpatient visit. Biological markers of alcohol use were evaluated at enrollment (T0), at 6 months (T1) and 12 months (T2). Results: Compared with T0, patients at T1 showed a significant reduction in alcohol consumption [10 (3–24) vs 2 (0–10); P = 0.015] and in γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase [187 (78–365) vs 98 (74–254); P = 0.0021]. The reduction in alcohol intake was more pronounced in patients with any housing condition [10 (3–20) vs 1 (0–8); P = 0.008]. Similarly, compared with T0, patients at T2 showed significant reduction in alcohol consumption [10 (3–24) vs 0 (0–15); P = 0.001], more pronounced in patients with any housing condition [10 (3–20) vs 0 (0–2); P = 0.006]. Moreover, at T2 patients showed a significant reduction in γ -glutamyl-transpeptidase [187 (78–365) vs 97 (74–189); P = 0.002] and in mean cell volume [100.2 (95–103.6) vs 98.3 (95–102); P = 0.042]. Conclusion: Patients experiencing homelessness may benefit from a multidisciplinary treatment program for AUD. Strategies able to facilitate and support their social reintegration and housing can improve treatment outcomes.
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U2 - 10.1093/alcalc/agaa052
DO - 10.1093/alcalc/agaa052
M3 - Article
C2 - 32533164
AN - SCOPUS:85089612386
VL - 55
SP - 547
EP - 553
JO - Alcohol and Alcoholism
JF - Alcohol and Alcoholism
SN - 0735-0414
IS - 5
ER -